The All People’s Congress (APC) is hungry for power and leadership in Sierra Leone apparently due to the weight and level of citizens’ disillusionment with the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), the APC is hungry. The pressing question: is that hunger matched by the capacity to meaningfully wrest power again—and do it better?
A Dormant Opposition in a Time of Crisis:
When the SLPP under President Bio took control in 2018, the APC had an opportunity to assert itself as the voice of frustrated citizens confronting inflation, rising costs of living, youth unemployment, and government overreach. Instead, as one editorial put it, the party chose “internal battles, survival politics … with the same old politics of looting, patronage, and opportunism.” Rather than offering clear alternatives, the APC largely whispered in the shadows, leaving civic space to close around them.
Civic groups have criticized the party for not mobilizing during key protests—over drug epidemics, corruption, electoral injustice—suggesting that the APC has been more passive than principled. Notably, its response to alleged electoral fraud in 2023 was limited to a brief boycott of parliament—an action dubbed “hollow and meaningless” by critics.
Internal Division: A House Divided:
Perhaps the APC’s gravest challenge is its own disunity. Since their 2018 loss, leadership has been contested terrain: factions vie for control, ego clashes dominate, and reformist voices clash with traditionalists. Some members push for fresh leadership and modernization; others cling to the old guard, fearing change.
The result is a public rift with messages splintered and confidence fractured—grassroots members, particularly youth, have voiced frustration and even drifted away in disillusionment. One APC supporter lamented that while the party claimed success in 2023, it did nothing to counter official narratives in the face of alleged rigging.
No Policy Vision: Criticism With No Blueprint:
Where SLPP projects like Free Quality Education or the Feed Salone initiative have failed to deliver, the APC has been expected to step forward with alternatives—yet none materialize. Observers note the party “has not built any serious policy think tank, issued regular policy alternatives, nor shown intellectual or moral leadership” . Instead, it appears to wait for SLPP self-destruction before it positions itself as default winner.
This lack of vision deepens APC’s image problem—viewed less as a government-in-waiting, more as a government-biding party.
The Shadow of Past Malpractice:
Corruption scandals and abuses during prior APC administrations continue to haunt the party. It has yet to meaningfully confront or reconcile with its past misdeeds, eroding credibility. Critics argue the party has been unable to apologize, reform, or fully distance itself from the practices that cost it power.
Without such reckoning, many see the APC returning to power not to serve the public—but to reclaim access to state resources and entrench its elites.
Appetite for Power, But Hunger for Reforms:
Does APС truly want to serve Sierra Leone, or simply to return to pilfering privilege? Several indications suggest self-preservation rather than public service drives their hunger. Reports allege certain senior APC figures may be cozying up to Bio’s government or have sold their loyalties for personal gain.
However, signs of renewal are emerging. Reform leaders like Richard Konteh and Ibrahim Bangura are pushing for open leadership races and generational change. The issue is whether momentum will sustain or founder under entrenched resistance.
Strategic Imperatives for 2028:
To regain relevance and seize power authentically, the APC must act on several fronts:
Resolve Leadership Crisis:
A transparent, democratic selection must quash backroom deals—coalescing around leaders with both integrity and vision.
Reconnect Grassroots & Youth:
APC must actively engage communities—town halls, youth councils, rural outreach—to restore trust and relevance.
Develop Policy Platform:
They must articulate clear plans for inflation control, job creation, healthcare, and education—delivering a forward-facing agenda.
Acknowledge Past Weaknesses:
Publicly confront prior funding abuses and pledge reform—to show governance has truly changed.
Stand Firm on Electoral Justice:
Demonstrate political courage in the face of electoral irregularity—boycotts and statements aren’t enough; sustained actions are.
Strengthen Media & Civil Society Ties:
Protect journalists and partner with civic groups to build accountability mechanisms.
The Democratic Stakes:
A weak or factionalized APC isn’t just its own failure—it threatens Sierra Leone’s democracy. Without a credible opposition, unchecked power grows; deliberation falters, accountability evaporates, and public dissent is extinguished.
If the APC fails again in 2028, voters may look outside the traditional two-party system—national stability could fracture along centrifugal lines.
Yes, the APC is hungry for power. But raw appetite is less important than how it is channeled. Will they simply return to the trough—seeking state resources—or evolve into a party of reform, delivery, and democratic integrity?
The next three years are decisive. If APC can overcome infighting, present a unified leadership, articulate progressive policies, re-forge connections with communities, and demonstrate moral clarity on elections, it stands a chance.
If not, hunger alone will be swallowed by disarray—and Sierra Leone will be the greatest victim of their failure.